SHAME ON (TEAM) INDIA, NEWS BROADCASTERS & ESPN
Tonight, all that was on the news was about how (Team) India was handed a raw deal by the umpires during the 2nd Test in Sydney. (Captain) Kumble attributed the defeat to their decisions and also went on to say that only one team played in the spirit of the game, and it was India. Tonight, the other big story was that of Harbhajan Singh being granted a 3-match ban by the ICC for racially violating Andrew Symonds. Really, where else can an apology-of-a-man like Harbhajan try to violate a guy like Symonds other than on a cricket pitch? Does he deserve the ban? Yes. Should one man’s word be taken another’s during such a case? No. Do I think calling Symonds ‘Monkey’ is ok because in India, we have a cultural relationship (as suggested by a stupid newsreader on NDTV 24x7) with the primates? No fucking way.
Bhajan’s somersault when he got Ponting out (for the 8th time…yes I’m keeping tabs along with Harsha Bhogle… seriously, why do people think this over-rated rubber mouth is still the epitome of commentary) was ridiculous. I’ve seen celebratory somersaults every weekend during the Premier League games… that’s what you call a somersault. Not a pussy act by the inimitable Sardar!!
Anyway, back to the game… here are my views:
a) Neither Ponting (nor any other cricketer) need walk if the outcome of the appeal is not apparent to the world. By world, I include the Blind-man’s buff Bucknor as well. For example, if a guy gets caught behind by a thick outer edge or caught-and-bowled, he better save us all some time and himself some ridicule by just walking. But if its not apparent, stay your ground and wait for the verdict. Don't disgaree or show dissent. But wait for the darn finger to go up. Cricket is no longer a stupid pastime the Brits had when they were not looting colonies like India or siring little cross-breeds with their ‘Aayas’. It’s a competitive sport, and walking is not always the smart thing to do… especially when you have opponents like (Team) India that include the likes of SreeSanth. Therefore, Ponting not walking had nothing to do with him appealing for Ganguly’s wicket. Mr. Gavaskar – you were behaving like a kid whose candy melted and fell on his hard-on. Grow up.
b) Which brings me to the Ganguly’s dismissal. The umpire referred the decision to the appealing team. That is the umpire’s fault. Why blame the Aussies? Go for Benson. I thought the catch was taken well.
c) Decisions sometimes go for you… and sometimes against you. In a game where human error is so common, our players should be mature enough not to make such silly comments and appear like sore losers. The first test was lost shamelessly by a margin of over 300 runs. The second test was better – but it was going to take more than a Rahul Dravid to help us win.
d) The events have helped direct the actual blame elsewhere, instead of pointing at the Jaffer’s, Dhoni’s and Yuvraj’s of the team. What the fuck is Yuvraj doing in the test team? The three idiots scored 52 runs totally in both innings put together. In the second innings, the only wrong decision was that of Dravid's dismissal. I'll even grant you Ganguly (although the catch was well taken even). What about Jaffer, Laxman, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Harbhajan, RP Singh and Ishant?
e) Which brings me to the unnecessary coverage of Deepika Padukone. I care a damn if she is watching the game or not. I care a bigger damn if she is dating Yuvraj Singh. ESPN needs a fucking reality check. It’s a sports channel – not Set Max.
f) Gavaskar should go for anger management. And then retire.
g) Bucknor should get that retina replaced. And then do a few favours for India. Then retire.
h) Ricky Ponting’s appeal for a catch that wasn’t: How many times have we seen players appeal for half chances? I remember our players being warned and find for excessive appealing many times. Type 'cricket India cautioned for excessive appealing' in your google search bar. You'll see. Nobody is fucking holier-than-thou here. To question the Aussie’s approach to the game (and its spirit) is simply stupid. 15 wins (I’m not adding the Sydney’s 16th) in a row cannot be achieved like this. 3 consecutive World Cups don’t happen out of the blue.
i) Kumble’s really poor remarks regarding the game not being played in the spirit of cricket – I understand his frustration. After all, he is the guy who played on with a broken jaw against the West Indies. But what the news channels failed to cover and what no ‘expert’ mentioned was India’s cheap tactics to waste time to force a draw. With 7 minutes of play remaining, 2 wickets fell in a row… and the players (RP Singh and Ishant Whatever) walked out to the pavilion and into the pitch so slowly it was disgusting. The latter was so smart he brought two right hand gloves… what a cheap thing to do. I was jumping on my sofa when Clarke got him out. Even he stayed his ground till he was given out. So – whats the fuss Kumble?
No point blaming Ponting and Co. No use in even blaming Bucknor. Some decisions will go for you... and some will go against. That’s the nature of this sport. Accept it. Swallow it. Smile and move on.
Bhajan’s somersault when he got Ponting out (for the 8th time…yes I’m keeping tabs along with Harsha Bhogle… seriously, why do people think this over-rated rubber mouth is still the epitome of commentary) was ridiculous. I’ve seen celebratory somersaults every weekend during the Premier League games… that’s what you call a somersault. Not a pussy act by the inimitable Sardar!!
Anyway, back to the game… here are my views:
a) Neither Ponting (nor any other cricketer) need walk if the outcome of the appeal is not apparent to the world. By world, I include the Blind-man’s buff Bucknor as well. For example, if a guy gets caught behind by a thick outer edge or caught-and-bowled, he better save us all some time and himself some ridicule by just walking. But if its not apparent, stay your ground and wait for the verdict. Don't disgaree or show dissent. But wait for the darn finger to go up. Cricket is no longer a stupid pastime the Brits had when they were not looting colonies like India or siring little cross-breeds with their ‘Aayas’. It’s a competitive sport, and walking is not always the smart thing to do… especially when you have opponents like (Team) India that include the likes of SreeSanth. Therefore, Ponting not walking had nothing to do with him appealing for Ganguly’s wicket. Mr. Gavaskar – you were behaving like a kid whose candy melted and fell on his hard-on. Grow up.
b) Which brings me to the Ganguly’s dismissal. The umpire referred the decision to the appealing team. That is the umpire’s fault. Why blame the Aussies? Go for Benson. I thought the catch was taken well.
c) Decisions sometimes go for you… and sometimes against you. In a game where human error is so common, our players should be mature enough not to make such silly comments and appear like sore losers. The first test was lost shamelessly by a margin of over 300 runs. The second test was better – but it was going to take more than a Rahul Dravid to help us win.
d) The events have helped direct the actual blame elsewhere, instead of pointing at the Jaffer’s, Dhoni’s and Yuvraj’s of the team. What the fuck is Yuvraj doing in the test team? The three idiots scored 52 runs totally in both innings put together. In the second innings, the only wrong decision was that of Dravid's dismissal. I'll even grant you Ganguly (although the catch was well taken even). What about Jaffer, Laxman, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Harbhajan, RP Singh and Ishant?
e) Which brings me to the unnecessary coverage of Deepika Padukone. I care a damn if she is watching the game or not. I care a bigger damn if she is dating Yuvraj Singh. ESPN needs a fucking reality check. It’s a sports channel – not Set Max.
f) Gavaskar should go for anger management. And then retire.
g) Bucknor should get that retina replaced. And then do a few favours for India. Then retire.
h) Ricky Ponting’s appeal for a catch that wasn’t: How many times have we seen players appeal for half chances? I remember our players being warned and find for excessive appealing many times. Type 'cricket India cautioned for excessive appealing' in your google search bar. You'll see. Nobody is fucking holier-than-thou here. To question the Aussie’s approach to the game (and its spirit) is simply stupid. 15 wins (I’m not adding the Sydney’s 16th) in a row cannot be achieved like this. 3 consecutive World Cups don’t happen out of the blue.
i) Kumble’s really poor remarks regarding the game not being played in the spirit of cricket – I understand his frustration. After all, he is the guy who played on with a broken jaw against the West Indies. But what the news channels failed to cover and what no ‘expert’ mentioned was India’s cheap tactics to waste time to force a draw. With 7 minutes of play remaining, 2 wickets fell in a row… and the players (RP Singh and Ishant Whatever) walked out to the pavilion and into the pitch so slowly it was disgusting. The latter was so smart he brought two right hand gloves… what a cheap thing to do. I was jumping on my sofa when Clarke got him out. Even he stayed his ground till he was given out. So – whats the fuss Kumble?
No point blaming Ponting and Co. No use in even blaming Bucknor. Some decisions will go for you... and some will go against. That’s the nature of this sport. Accept it. Swallow it. Smile and move on.
posted by Arun Nair at
12:41 PM
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